Pin-ball game device



Nov? l, 1927. 1,647,583

F. A. ROCKWELL PIN BALL GAME DEVICE Filed Feb. 26P 1927 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED lSTATES FOREST A. ROCKWELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PIN-BALL GAME DEVICE.

VApplication 'led February 26, 1927. Serial No..171,163.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a pin ball game device which may be used as a parlor game, or which may be used in amusement places, such as bowling alleys, billiard halls, and the like.

In this invention there is provided a platform or floor, projecting upwardly from which are a number of pins which, when struck by a ball thrown bythe player, will be rocked on their pivots so as to move into horizontal or inclined position, the construction being such that when moved to inclined position, they will disappear below the .upper surface of thefloor over which the ball is rolled. The'game is constructed to closely resemble the game of bowling, and since in the game of bowling there kis possible a certain scoring known as a Istrike and a spare, in this device it isalso desirable that such a scoring may be made in order to add to the attractiveness. ofthe game, and increase its popularity.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure wherein, upon striking one of the pins and moving it to inclined position, a mechanism will be released for moving all ofthe other pins to inclined position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of pins pivotally mounted and so constructed and arranged that they may be simultaneously -Inoved to upright or operative posit-ion.

Another obj ectof the invention is the provision of aldevice of this classwhereby,fupon an adjustment of a single part, the release of the master pin will not affect in any mannerthe movement of the other pins.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class which is simple in structure, economical of manufacture, highly efficient in use, and of such a compact structure that it may be easily moved from place to place.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

rllhe invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which, v

,.Fig. 1 is atop plan view of the invention with a part broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken online 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig 3 is a `sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2. i E Fig. 4 vis a View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view illustrating the locking dog used in the invent-ion.`

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a base 7 supported at one end by the swingably mounted support 8 and at the other end by the support 9. Projecting upwardly from the rear end of the base 7 is a rear wall 10 and adjacent the forward end is the forward wall 11. SupportedY by the forward wall 11 and the side walls 13 and 14 is a floor 12 at opposite sides formed of thinner material than at the center to pro.-

vide gutters or alley ,ways 15 and 16, for the recept-ion of the balls used in the game., A pad 18 is mounted'on the inner surface of the rear wall 10 at the upper side thereof, to form an impact member for the balls which are used in the game. Projecting inwardly from the rear wall 10 is a'sh'elf formingV member 17 which extends forwardly from the rear wall 10 a greater distance than does the shelf 19 which serves partially as a support for the rear end of the floor 12.

Mounted on the side walls 13 and 1 4 and projecting outwardly therefrom are supporting clips 20, 21, 22 and 23 which serve to engage the undersurface of and support a. slidable plate or board 24 in which are formed openings 25 adapted to register with openings 27 formed in the floor 12. Mounted at opposite ends in the side walls 13 and 14 are rods 28, upon each of which is mounted a plurality of pins 29, which project through one of the openings 25 so, when raised to upright position, extend above the surface of the floor 12-engaging in the o-penings or slots 27.- Mounted at opposite ends in the side walls 13 and 14 is a'rod 30 upon which is pivotally mounted the vpin 31 which projects upwardly, when in upright position through one of the openings25 and a registering opening 27 Mounted on the block is a dog 33 which extendsy through the slot 26 formed in the pin 31 at one end, and is adapted to engage at theopposite end an abutment block 34 which is tixedly mounted on the plate 24, this plate 24 being slidable longitudinally of the floor 12. The dog is so mounted, intermediate its ends, that it will, by gravity, assume a position where the nose of the dog is engaging the block 34. Attached to the rearward end of the slidable plate 24 is a cord 35 which carries at its free end a weight 36, this cord passing over a pulley 43 which is mounted in the bracket 44 suspended from the shelf 19. Attached to the forward end of the slidable plate 24 is a cord 37 which extends to the forward end of the section 3S which is attached to the main body.

In operation the plate 24 is moved forwardly by the cord 37 so as to bring the pins into upright position, as shown in 2. The dog will then engage the block 34 and prevent the weight 36 from moving the plate 24 rearwardly. rIlhe player will then roll the balls upwardly on the floor 12 so as to knock the pins struck on their pivot int-o inclined position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The ball, after striking the pad 18 will strike the shelf 19 from which it may roll to either side and return by either the gutter 16 or the gutter 15. TWhen the pin 31 is struck and moved to inclined position, on account of the projection of the dog through the slot 26, the dog will also be rocked in position shown in dotted lines in Fig 5, and the plate 24 released for slidable movement rearwardly in response to Athe pressure exerted by the weight 36, thus causing all of the pins to be moved to inclined position.

It is evident, therefore, that if the pin 31 is struck with the first ball, that the equivalent of a strike in a bowling game is scored, and that if the pin 31 is struck and knocked to inclined position by a subsequently thrown ball, the equivalent of a spare is scored.

If it is desired to prevent the plate 24 from moving all of the pins to inclined position, the movable abutment strip 39, from which projects an operating handle 40 through the side wall 13, may be moved rearwardly .to rest beneath the weight 36, so that when the pin 31 is movedto disengage the dog from the block 34, the weight 36 will rest upon the strip or abutment 39, and the plate 24 moved but slightly rearwardly and a less distance than is necessary to move all of the pins to inclined position.

In this manner, I have provided a device where a game of ten pins may be played, closely simulating the bowling game as now played on permanent bowling alleys. It is believed that the simplicity of the structure is apparent, as well as its durability.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

IIaving thus described my invent-ion what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A pin ball game device of the class described comprising: a Hoor; a plurality of pivotally mounted pins projecting upwardly from said iioor and adapted upon engagement with a ball rolled on said floor for being moved out of upwardly projected position; a slide; slide, the movement of said slide in one direction a predetermined distance effecting the movement of all of said pins out of upwardly projected position; means for locking said slide against movement; means 'i' for moving said slide upon release of said locking means, one of said pins upon movement out of upwardly projected position effecting a release of said locking means.

2. A pin ball game device of the class described, comprising: a floor having a plurality of openings formed therein; a plurality of pivotally mounted pins projecting upwardly through said openings; a slide adapted upon movement in one direction a predetermined distance for moving said pins out of upwardly projected position, and adapted upon movement in the other direc-V means for moving said fr all tion for raising said pins to upwardly pro- Y j ected position; means for locking said slide against movement; means for moving said slide upon release of said locking means, one of said pins upon movement out of upwardly projected position eecting a release of said locking means; and means for moving said slide in a direction to raise said pins to upwardly projected position.

3. A pin ball game device of the class described comprising: a floor; a plurality of pivotally mounted pins projecting upwardly from said floor and adapted upon engagement with a ball rolled on said floor for being moved out of upwardly projectedposition; a slide; meansY for moving said slide, the movement of said slide in one direction a predetermined distance effecting. the movement of all of said pins out of upwardlyV projected position; means for locking said slide against movement; means for moving said slide upon release of said locking means, one of said pins upon movement out of upwardly projected position effecting a release of said locking means; and means for preventing movement of said slide in one direction sufficiently to move said pins to downwardly inclined position upon release of said locking means.

4. A pin ball game device of the class de scribed comprising: a iioor having a plurality of openings formed therein; a slide posilill) tioned below said floor and provided with a plurality of openings formed therein in alignment with the openings in said floor; a plurality of pins pivotally mounted below said slide and projecting upwardly through said openings and extending above said floor, Vsaid pins being adapted for movement to downwardly inclined position upon engagement with a ball rolled on said floor; means for locking said slide against movement in one direction, the movement of said slide in one direction a predetermined distance, moving all of said pins to downwardly inclined position, one of said pins upon movement to downwardly inclinedv position effecting a release of said locking means; means, operable at will, for preventing a movement of said slide in said direction, upon release of said locking means, a suiiicient distance to move said pins to downwardly inclined position.

5. A pin ball game device of the class described, comprising: a floor having a plurality of openings formed therein; a slide positioned below said floor and provided with la plurality of openings formed therein in alignment with the openings in said floor; a plurality of pins pivotally mounted below said slide and projecting upwardly through said openings and extending above said ioor, said pins being adapted for movement to downwardly inclined position upon engagement with a ball rolled on said oor, means for locking said slide against movement in one direction, the movement of said slide in one direction apredetermined distance, moving all of said pins to downwardly inclined position, one of said pins upon movement to downwardlyinclined position effecting a release of said locking means; means, operable at will, for preventing a movement of said slidein said direction, upon release of said locking means, a suicient distance to move said pins to downwardly inclined position; and means for moving said slide Vin the other direction, the movement of said slide in the other direction eifecting aimovement of said pins to upwardly projected position.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

FOREST A. ROCKWELL. 

